Auto tag holder hinge



vMay 4, 1954 APAOLINI ETAL 2,677,206

AUTO TAG HOLDER HINGE Filed Aug. s1. 195o Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTO TAG HOLDER HINGE William J. Paolini, Thomas W. Paolini, and Anthony D. Paolini, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application August 31, 1950, Serial No. 182,598

l-Claim. 1

Our invention relates to an auto tag holder and relates specically to an auto tag holder made in the form of a hinge which is attached to the conventional stationary bracket, or holes, provided on a vehicle body.

Heretofore, auto tag holders have been manufactured and used but these were mostly for ornamental purposes, or for holding the auto tag in a predetermined position with respect to a portion of the body of the vehicle. The prior art devices permitted dirt and grime to accumulate behind the auto tag detracting from the lappearance of the vehicle. When it was attempted to remove this dirt and grime by washing or polishing, the iingers were usually bumped, scratched or lacerated due to the inability to insert them in the narrow space between the body of the vehicle and the auto tag. In modern vehicles this danger of hurting the ngers and hand is even greater as the auto tag is generally recessed into the body of the vehicle or attached very closely to the body or bumpers of the vehicle.

It, therefore, is an object of our invention to provide a new and novel auto tag holder hinge which permits the auto tag to be swung away from the body or bumpers of a vehicle for purposes of cleaning away the dirt and grime which has accumulated therebeneath, and which is adapted to lock the auto tag in an upright position for displaying the auto tag. l

Another object of our invention is to provide a new and novel auto tag holder hinge which is easily and quickly attached to the body of a vehicle.

Another object of our invention is to provide a new and novel aut-o tag holder hinge which supports the back and upper part of the auto tag to prevent damage thereto, and which is capable of accommodating different width auto tags.

Other objects of our invention are to provide a new and improved auto tag holder hinge which is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly eiective in use.

With the above and related objects in view, our invention consists in the details of construction land combination of parts, as will be more fully understood when the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying e drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an auto tag holder hinge embodying our invention bearing an auto tag and attached to the body of a vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the auto tag CTI holder hinge of Fig. 'l showing the auto tag swung away from the body of the vehicle.

Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view of an auto tag holder hinge embodying ourinvention.

Fig. 4 is a side View of an auto tag holder hinge embodying our invention bearing an auto tag and attached to the body of a vehicle.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a modication of our auto tag holder hinge adapted to be used where only a single member is attached to the body of a vehicle.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, we show an automobile body, generally designated as A, to which is attached an auto tag holder hinge, generally designated as B, upon which is mounted an auto tag, generally designated as C.

The body of the vehicle A may be of any conventional design such as a coupe, sedan, convertible, truck or bus, having a stationary bracket I I, or holes in the body or bumpers, for holding an auto tag C in close relationship thereto.

The auto tag holder hinge B comprises a member i0 pivotally joined to a second member 24 and a bracket 4B attached to the member 24 to support the back and top of an auto tag.

The member I0 is of rectangular configuration and is made of sheet or strap metal having a pair of longitudinal slots I2 and I4 punched therethrough. The auto tag holder hinge B is secured to the stationary bracket I I, or holes in the body or bumpers of the vehicle A by passing the bolts I6 and I8 through the slots I2 and I4, respectively, and through the holes in the body, bumper or bracket Il and then tightening the bolts I6 and I8. The member I0 is bent at its ends to form the short legs 20 and 22, respectively, perpendicular to the width of the member Ill. The member I0 is pivotally joined to the member 24 as will be hereinafter described. I

The second member 24 is of rectangular conguration and is made of sheet or strap metal having a pair of longitudinal slots 26 and 2B punched therethrough. An auto tag C is attached to the member 24 by means of bolts through the holes provided in the auto tag for this purpose and the slots 26, 28, respectively. The member 24 is also bent at each end to form the short legs 30 and 32, respectively, perpendicular to the width of the member 24. The legs 30 and 32 are spaced a sufcient distance apart to straddle, yet fit closely against theleg's 20.and.22, respectively, of the member I0.

The pairs of legs 20, 30 and 22, 32 are pivotally joined to form a hinge whereby the auto tag may be swung away from the body of the vehicle to permit washing or polishing behind the tag.

As the construction is alike on both ends of the auto tag holder hinge B, we shall conne our description to the pivotal joining of the pair of legs 20, 30, it being kept in mind that the pivotal joiningof the pair .cf legs 22;"321-is. of the same construction. Referring now 'to'r Fig. l5 Vit Vis-seen that a bore 34 is provided through the leg 20 and a bore 3S is provided through the leg 30. The bores 34 and 36 are aligned and complementary to each other. A rivet, or bolt, '38 is passed through the bores 34 and 36 andiafspringvwasher 45 is placed on the free end off-rivet=orfboltlf38, then the end is provided with anutf38A, to prevent the rivet, or bolt, 3S from being dislodged from the bores 34, 36. The springwasherzllckintei'posed between the leg 20 and the peened end,

v or nut, exerts apressure-'tending-to.hold the f'legs 20, 30 together.

vAsi. Ithe. member :24v-.would lmove, or 1 swing; due to thevibrationsinducediby the runningof-V the .vehicle.-A, or the-.weight -Ofithetag C,- a pair of .depressions 42 andv-42Avaregprovided in lthe-leg 20 and a pair of :beads 44-and 44A vare-provided on .the leg-Mato lockthe auto tag in an upright position for display purposes. .The depressions 42:'andf-42A vare located inthe outer portion of the leg 20andthe.beads 44- and :44Aare loca-ted on the innert-portionof the -leg .35. Thebeads 44 xand 44A .are complementary `and intert :with the :depressions l42 .and-42A.. respectively, and are V.so located that an-auto tag carriedby themem- .be1.-24 is :held inan uprightgposition. Yl-lovvever, theautok tag may'fbeswungaaway from the body *.of the vehicle.-Av. byb exerting-a; pressure on the auto tag in a direction away from therbody -A. .This pressure should be 7suflcient -to vovercome the tension :ofthe-springwasherf40 -and pull the .beads-44 .and 44A out of thefdepressions-TLIZ .and -42A,'respectively, causing. the legs `20 and V3i) to spread apartandthe spring washer 4Il-toflatten -out. .The tensionrof the -springwasher 14I) -wil1 Ytend to push the .-legs 20"..and.;3il together even lwhen-the `-tag rswung .away `from zthebody so that when .it is raised again to an vupright position, the instant A--the vbeads V44 and Y 44A- coincide with the depressions r.42 and 42A jthe .beads will enter the .depressions to lock-.the auto :tagin an .uprightposition The-auto .tag .holder hinge B further provided `with. van uprightsupport--46.to,prevent .the .auto .tag C. from being .bent or deformed. The

supportAB yis .madeof metal-and is bent at one end .to resemble a-fJ. AY longitudinalslot .48 `providednin Athe-leg.: of .the support/.46 adapting the support to..be used on .different width. auto tags. The support 46 is-attached to .the-mem- Iber .24 at substantially itscenteinby means of the bolts 50 and 52.passing..through the'member 24.andfthe slot.48 ,in the support46. The hooked enclAAof thesupport 46.is.placed.over thetop of the autdtag C .and lieldirmlythereony then -..the `bolts 5U ..and 1"52 ,a1e-.tightened to hold .it vsecurely in place. The. leg of the support 46 against the back of the auto tag Cv prevents the tag C from being bent toward the bodyk of 'the vehicleA whilelthe'hookcd end 46A prevents .the tag .C jfrom being bent.. away from the body .of the vehicleA.

Referring now .to Fig. l6 which illustrates a `modification :of,our..auto .tagholder hinge BI wherein the' stationary :bracket IIA" attached to the body of the vehicle A consists otasingle 10 transverse to: the bracket 4I IAris Weldedior bolted,

to'a conventional taghlder at '56. "The other end of the piece 54 is pivotally joined to the bracket I IA by means of a rivet, or bolt, 38C passing-.through complementary bores in the piece 54 and bracket IIA. The rivet, or bolt, 38C has flaspring washer (not shown) placed on its free lend'which''-is'peened, or provided with a nut (not f shown) tojprevent the rivet, or bolt, 38C from being dislodged from the piece 54 and the bracket IIA. The spring washer exerts a pressure tending to hold the piece 54 and the bracket I IA together. .hepiece f54 `-is .lockedlin' an upright .@position-'byrmeans of smallzbeads v(not ishown) ,'nearfeach edge-'ofipiece.54I which ftagainst and bear on corresponding edges of Vthe--bracket IIA.

The locking actionis1similar -to that of the auto tag :holder hinge 'Brexcept'thatI the beadsido not .iit into'recesses butlten'ditoialign the edges of the piece54 with the correspondingedges"of` the bracket I IA.

'From the foregoing description, it is-apparent that an auto tag attached to an automobile body, bumper, or fender bymeansof ourauto tag hold- 'er' hinge is capable of being swungfaway from A'theupright position to permit' cleaning or polishfing of thesurface :behind the auto tag'without thedanger of Skinning' orlaceratingthe 'hand or fingers, while the locking :arrangement insures 'thatthe 'auto tag will. not .swing from Athe uprightpositionaccidentally. Of course, it is apparent that .the attaching of our .device-is just 'as simple asattachinganauto .tag itself and lthat its attachment can be quickly and easily eected.

While our invention-hasbeen described in considerable detail, .such 'description is .merely intended as being 'illustrative rather. than. limiting, .as our invention .maybe variouslyembodied, and

thescope -of the. invention is to vlie-determined ras claimed.

We claim as our invention: :In-an automobile tag holder hinge, a U-shaped member provided with a pair of longitudinal slots vin itsbasezfor attachingan auto tagtliereto, said member provided with a bore through each'legv and afplurality yoil-beads on the'inner .surface off` eachr leg, another U-shaped vmember provided with a. pair of longitudinal slots in its basefforsecuring it to the body of a vehicle, said other memberprovidedwitha bore through each leg-and YVa plurality. ofv4 depressions in the outer vvsurface-ofv eachleg, the 4legs of saidrst nien- -tioned'1nemberbeing=spaced to straddle the legs of Ysaidfother member so that the bores in the legs of said rst mentioned member coincidewith 'the bores in the-'legs of 'said other member and said beads are complementary-and intert with -said depressions,l abolt passed through each pair rof coincidental-borespa spring washer on each of -said bolts, and a'nut onreach of said bolts to secure the pairs of legs togethen'saidV beads and .said-depressions. cooperating to lock said members a. predeterminedposition from which they may be disengagedlbyexerting .a small outward and downward pressureagainst said iirst mem- "ber, and an inverted J-'shape'dbracket attached to substantially the center of said rst mentioned member, said bracket adapted to support the back and top of an auto tag to prevent it from being bent or deformed, said bracket being provided with a longitudinal slot in its leg whereby said bracket is attached to said first mentioned member and whereby it may be adjusted to accommodate different Width tags, and the hooked top of said inverted J-shaped bracket adapted to engage the top of said auto tag.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Woodruff Oct. 11, 1910 Cordes July 31, 1923 Bionigen June 29, 1926 Campbell June 1, 1937 Benton Sept. 2, 1941 

